SALON

Monday, Jun 24, 2013 12:30 PM UTC

Progressives to Hillary: OK, but please no Lanny Davis

The left seems largely happy with Hillary now, because she can beat Republicans. Just please no wars or Mark Penn!

By

Topics: Hillary Clinton, 2016 Elections, Opening Shot, White House, Presidential Race, Democrats, Liberals, The Left, Mark Penn, Lanny Davis, Iraq war, Foreign policy, Libya, Syria,

Progressives to Hillary: OK, but please no Lanny Davis Hillary Clinton (Credit: Reuters)

There was a story this weekend on Politico about the feelings progressives have toward Hillary Clinton, titled “Progressives at Netroots Nation 2013: Hillary Clinton must win us over.” Within it, the “more than two dozen” attendees interviewed offer some hesitations about going with another Clinton in 2016 and her still-hawkish foreign policy. But as the author of the piece admits, “the backing of progressives appears to be Clinton’s to lose.”

Another NBC News story on precisely the same topic comes away with a similar conclusion: “progressives are ready to give her another shot.”

Progressives are basically fine with Hillary Clinton taking the 2016 nomination. There! Settled.

And why shouldn’t they be? As Markos Moulitsas puts it, “The fact that she makes 2016 uninteresting makes that attractive.” Yeah, that’s about all you need, too. She would win. And you know who’s a good nominee to go with, in general, in politics? The one who would win the election. Progressives overall might prefer, say, an Elizabeth Warren or Martin O’Malley for the nominee, but they likely won’t run if Hillary Clinton runs, so whatever.

One thing we should’ve learned by now is that a presidential nominee isn’t that important if they have this good a chance of winning. You all are welcome to get all worked up for two years about which candidates sign what pledge and pander to what group and voted which way on some agriculture amendment back in the aughts if you enjoy that; I’ve found that it’s a better use of time to take a walk in the park or stare at the wall.

Uh-oh, here I am discarding the civic duty of vetting presidential candidates altogether. It was a bit of an exaggeration. There are still some things that progressives should watch for if (when) Clinton announces her candidacy, in seriousness. No, not the dumb agriculture amendment or whether she signed X petty pledge for something that no president will ever do.

But a couple of things:

1) Her foreign policy. Hillary Clinton lost the 2008 election largely because she loved war too much. Even if you forgive, as many (but not all) do, her Iraq War vote as “a thing of the past” by now, keep in mind that as secretary of state and a more generally a top adviser to this administration, she pushed (and got) her intervention in Libya and and pushed (and didn’t get) serious intervention in Syria. She’s still a hawk. Maybe some of you are rediscovering your interventionist spirit these days. Some of us aren’t. Looking at the modern presidency, foreign policy views are typically the most important thing to consider in primaries, since it’s what presidents have the most control over. And a quick look at the scoreboard shows her to still be a hawk. Not an insane hawk, but a hawk. This should be progressives’ biggest concern about a Hillary Clinton presidency.

2) Her advisers: Basically, how close to the campaign will Lanny Davis be? Will Lanny Davis be a top surrogate on television, like he was the last time, for whatever reason? That won’t fly. Just don’t put the world through that again, please. Fortunately, Mark Penn seems to be busy picking his ass at Microsoft these days, so he’s out of the picture. Please, no Lanny Davis.

Maybe you can think of a couple more. The best impression we took away from both the Politico and NBC News pieces, though, is that Netroots Nation attendees weren’t even thinking about the 2016 nominating contest at all, but for the reporters that kept asking them about it. That’s a great sign. Because the focus on a nominee isn’t that important, and people have picked up on that. This really is a from-the-ground-up business, and building the coalitions for action on particular issues is much more important than focusing on the quirks and tics among candidates with largely the same platforms.

You don’t have to love them; they don’t have to love you. Isn’t that a refreshing feeling?

Jim Newell

Jim Newell has covered politics for Wonkette and Gawker and is a contributor to the Guardian. More Jim Newell.

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

7 motorist-friendly camping sites

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 9

Sponsored Post

  • White River National Forest via Lower Crystal Lake, Colorado
    For those OK with the mainstream, White River Forest welcomes more than 10 million visitors a year, making it the most-visited recreation forest in the nation. But don’t hate it for being beautiful; it’s got substance, too. The forest boasts 8 wilderness areas, 2,500 miles of trail, 1,900 miles of winding service system roads, and 12 ski resorts (should your snow shredders fit the trunk space). If ice isn’t your thing: take the tire-friendly Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway — 82 miles connecting the towns of Meeker and Yampa, half of which is unpaved for you road rebels.
    fs.usda.gov/whiteriveryou


    Image credit: Getty

  • Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest via Noontootla Creek, Georgia
    Boasting 10 wildernesses, 430 miles of trail and 1,367 miles of trout-filled stream, this Georgia forest is hailed as a camper’s paradise. Try driving the Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway, which saw Civil War battles fought. If the tall peaks make your engine tremble, opt for the relatively flat Oconee National Forest, which offers smaller hills and an easy trail to the ghost town of Scull Shoals. Scaredy-cats can opt for John’s Mountain Overlook, which leads to twin waterfalls for the sensitive sightseer in you.
    fs.usda.gov/conf


    Image credit: flickr/chattoconeenf

  • Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area via Green Road, Michigan
    The only national forest in Lower Michigan, the Huron-Mainstee spans nearly 1 million acres of public land. Outside the requisite lush habitat for fish and wildlife on display, the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is among the biggest hooks for visitors: offering beach camping with shores pounded by big, cerulean surf. Splash in some rum and you just might think you were in the Caribbean.
    fs.usda.gov/hmnf


    Image credit: umich.edu

  • Canaan Mountain via Backcountry Canaan Loop Road, West Virginia
    A favorite hailed by outdoorsman and author Johnny Molloy as some of the best high-country car camping sites anywhere in the country, you don’t have to go far to get away. Travel 20 miles west of Dolly Sods (among the busiest in the East) to find the Canaan Backcountry (for more quiet and peace). Those willing to leave the car for a bit and foot it would be remiss to neglect day-hiking the White Rim Rocks, Table Rock Overlook, or the rim at Blackwater River Gorge.
    fs.usda.gov/mnf


    Image credit: Getty

  • Mt. Rogers NRA via Hurricane Creek Road, North Carolina
    Most know it as the highest country they’ll see from North Carolina to New Hampshire. What they may not know? Car campers can get the same grand experience for less hassle. Drop the 50-pound backpacks and take the highway to the high country by stopping anywhere on the twisting (hence the name) Hurricane Road for access to a 15-mile loop that boasts the best of the grassy balds. It’s the road less travelled, and the high one, at that.
    fs.usda.gov/gwj


    Image credit: wikipedia.org

  • Long Key State Park via the Overseas Highway, Florida
    Hiking can get old; sometimes you’d rather paddle. For a weekend getaway of the coastal variety and quieter version of the Florida Keys that’s no less luxe, stick your head in the sand (and ocean, if snorkeling’s your thing) at any of Long Key’s 60 sites. Canoes and kayaks are aplenty, as are the hot showers and electric power source amenities. Think of it as the getaway from the typical getaway.
    floridastateparks.org/longkey/default.cfm


    Image credit: floridastateparks.org

  • Grand Canyon National Park via Crazy Jug Point, Arizona
    You didn’t think we’d neglect one of the world’s most famous national parks, did you? Nor would we dare lead you astray with one of the busiest parts of the park. With the Colorado River still within view of this cliff-edge site, Crazy Jug is a carside camper’s refuge from the troops of tourists. Find easy access to the Bill Hall Trail less than a mile from camp, and descend to get a peek at the volcanic Mt. Trumbull. (Fear not: It’s about as active as your typical lazy Sunday in front of the tube, if not more peaceful.)
    fs.usda.gov/kaibab


    Image credit: flickr/Irish Typepad

  • As the go-to (weekend) getaway car for fiscally conscious field trips with friends, the 2013 MINI Convertible is your campground racer of choice, allowing you and up to three of your co-pilots to take in all the beauty of nature high and low. And with a fuel efficiency that won’t leave you in the latter, you won’t have to worry about being left stranded (or awkwardly asking to go halfsies on gas expenses).


    Image credit: miniusa.com

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 9

Related Videos

Comments

 40 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

vote
We crush them with debt to go to college -- and today, rates are actually set to double. Are we out of our minds?
3285 points3286 points | 4074 comments
vote
Before Edward Snowden: “Sexual deviates” and the NSA - When the last major defection hit the NSA, the government smeared the leakers as gay. New documents show they lied
2679 points2680 points | 185 comments
vote
This man is still lying to America: A smoking gun shows Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is not coming clean to us -- again
755 points756 points | 43 comments
vote
We must hate our children. We crush them with debt to go to college -- and today, rates are actually set to double. Are we out of our minds?
110 points111 points | 17 comments
vote
James Clapper is still lying to America
81 points82 points | comment

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "The Joker": Laughing at life's deepest sorrows